JOHANNESBURG – police stopped the group as they tried to break into the shops, claiming there were drugs and weapons inside.

JOHANNESBURG – A large group of people who tried to break into shops in the Pretoria CBD owned by non-nationals, saying they wanted to search them for drugs, have accused police of protecting immigrants and claim the officers were bribed.

On Friday, police stopped the group as they tried to break into the shops, claiming there were drugs and weapons inside.

Shop owners hid inside their businesses for hours, saying they were prepared to die defending their stock.

Foreign nationals were appealing to police while trying to clarify the accusations that they are drug lords.

The group of people were so convinced, they even asked police to search the premises.